50 New cars for 2012 - Part 6

Fiat Punto Evo

Fiat is ready with a set of cosmetic upgrades for its Punto hatchback. To be called the Punto Evo, the car will receive a new front bumper with integrated foglamps, a new front grille and slightly reworked headlights. The tail-lights will also be tweaked and there will be a redesigned rear bumper too. The European Evo features a new dashboard though it remains to be seen if the Indian car will get this. The current engine options are likely to continue though we expect a small price increment across the range.
Factfile: 

Engines: 1.2 litre-petrol,  1.4 litre-petrol, 1.3-litre-diesel, 1.3-litre diesel

Power/Torque: 67bhp/9.76kgm, 89bhp/ 11.67kgm, 75bhp/20kgm, 90bhp/21.3kgm

Kerb weight: 1090-1145kg

L/W/H: NA/1687/1495mm

New Force Trax

Some numbers first. The Mahindra Bolero sells on average 7,000 units a month. On the other hand, its direct competitor in the utility vehicle market, the Force Trax sells about 700 units each month. Force Motors is now readying a new version which should make the Trax a more serious alternative to the Bolero. Smarter styling and better interiors will lead the list of changes. The new Trax will also get the OM616 engine that features a two-valve CRDi system. This BS IV-compliant motor will allow the Trax to be sold in metros as well.
Factfile:

Engine: 2.6-litre diesel

Power/Torque: NA

Kerb weight: NA

L/W/H: NA

Expected: Mid-2012

Price: Rs 5.5-6.5 lakh

Force MPV

Force Motors is set to follow up its first passenger vehicle, the recently launched Force One, with a new MPV. The MPV in question is the Viano that will be manufactured under license from Mercedes-Benz.
The MPV will, in all likelihood, be an eight-seater making it an attractive option for large families and tour operators. The Force Motors MPV is likely to feature the same Mercedes-Benz licensed OM611 engine as employed on the Force One. This 2.2-litre common-rail diesel engine produces 139bhp at 3800rpm. Power will be transmitted to the rear wheels (just as on the Viano) via a five-speed gearbox.
Prices are not known yet but we expect the van to sport a price tag between Rs 10-15 lakh.
Factfile:

Engine: 2.2-litre diesel

Power/Torque: 139bhp/32.7kgm

Kerb weight: NA

L/W/H: 4763/1338/2253mm

Expected: Late 2012

Price: Rs 10-15 lakh

Chevrolet Sail hatchback

Simply put, small cars equal big sales. And this small car has the potential to seriously put the wind in Chevrolet’s sales (pun intended)! The Sail hatchback that will be launched before the saloon looks striking whichever angle you look at it. The design is well executed and, like the saloon, its spacious interiors will be a selling point. It is likely to share the Beat’s 1.2-litre petrol engine and also get the 1.3-litre Fiat Multijet within a year of launch. Costs will be kept low thanks to the car sharing many components with the saloon. A sub-Rs 4 lakh base price would make it a very enticing option.
Factfile:

Engine: 1.2-litre petrol

Power/Torque: 79bhp/10.91kgm

Kerb weight: 1070kg

L/W/H: 3947/1690/1503mm

Expected: April 2012

Price: Rs 4-6 lakh

Also read: Chevrolet Sail spy pics

Chevrolet Sail Saloon

The Sail is Chevrolet’s weapon for a fresh assault in the midsize segment. Designed and developed in China by GM and SAIC, the Sail looks every bit a modern Chevy. The proportions are nice and styling is sharp all over. Interior space is a highlight and that should give it an edge over smaller rivals like the Maruti Swift Dzire.
Power will come courtesy a 1.4-litre petrol engine producing 102bhp, and eventually the 1.3-litre Fiat-sourced Multijet diesel. Interestingly, the Sail platform has its roots in the same Opel Corsa that was on sale in India till 2006; so the car should not be too expensive for Chevrolet to produce. Prices are likely to be affordable, ranging from Rs 6-7.5 lakh.
Factfile:

Engine: 1.4-litre petrol

Power/Torque: 102bhp/13.35kgm

Kerb weight: 1070kg

L/W/H: 4249/1690/1505mm

Expected: September 2012

Price: Rs 6-7.5 lakh

Chevrolet CN- 100

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) that picked up a 50 percent stake in GM India last year has big plans for India. Among the products headed here is the Wuling-made CN-100 MPV. The CN-100 may not score too high on styling but its trump card will be its versatility. Likely to be sold as a seven-seater, its second and third row seats can also be folded flat or removed altogether. Powering the MPV will be a 1.4-litre petrol engine that will be joined by the Fiat-sourced 1.3 Multijet diesel in 2013. The CN-100 will be manufactured at General Motors’ Talegaon plant and will be sold under the Chevrolet brand name. With no diesel option available until 2013, GM will have to price the CN-100 very competitively to attract buyers. Don’t be surprised if this one comes with a sub-Rs 6 lakh price tag.

Factfile:

Engine: 1.4-litre petrol

Power/Torque: 102bhp/13.35kgm

Kerb weight: 1205kg

L/W/H: 4305/1680/1750mm

Expected: July 2012

Price: Rs 6 lakh

Chevrolet Captiva

Chevrolet’s versatile SUV has just been given a face-lift and looks all the better for it. An imposing split grille in line with Chevrolet’s new family look and double-barrel headlamps are  the most prominent changes to the Captiva’s styling while clear lens tail-lamps complete the makeover.

The seven-seater will also benefit from revised interiors. On the engine front, the 2-litre motor is set to be replaced by a new 2.2-litre diesel unit. Peak power will see a spike from 148bhp at present to 184bhp on the new engine. Prices are likely to increase by around Rs 1 lakh when the new model is launched early next year.

Factfile:

Engine: 2.2-litre diesel

Power/Torque: 184bhp/40.78kgm

Kerb weight: 1878kg

L/W/H: 4673/1879/1727mm

Expected: January 2012

Price: Rs 22-24 lakh

Please come back tomorrow to read more!

50 New cars for 2012 - Part 1
50 New cars for 2012 - Part 2
50 New cars for 2012 - Part 3
50 New cars for 2012 - Part 4
50 New cars for 2012 - Part 5

Source: www.autocarindia.com